Internal tensions have emerged within Greece’s PASOK party over its latest wave of expansion—announced just one day after the inclusion of 35 new members into its Committee for Coalition and Expansion, ahead of the party’s upcoming congress.
Concerns from Key Figures
Athens Mayor Haris Doukas and PASOK’s Political Planning Coordinator Anna Diamantopoulou have both voiced concerns about the process, highlighting a growing unease within the party’s leadership—particularly at its historic headquarters on Charilaou Trikoupi Street—regarding how the expansion has been managed. While the party leadership seeks to project an image of openness to broader audiences, critics warn that the current approach risks undermining its political identity and cohesion.
‘Haphazard Expansion’ and Eroding Principles
Doukas, speaking on SKAI TV on Tuesday, March 10, 2026, described the expansion as ‘haphazard’—a Greek idiom conveying disorder and lack of method—and stressed the absence of clear principles, rules, or shared values guiding the selections. He argued that PASOK cannot appear to be recruiting members ‘from a sack’, warning that each addition must serve a coherent political purpose and reinforce—not weaken—the party’s ethical framework.
‘The expansion underway appears haphazard. There must be a values-based framework. It’s unacceptable for people who insulted us to simply return—or arrive uninvited. Those who hurled oranges at us during the coalition government are now attending the party congress without voting rights,’ Doukas said.
He singled out the inclusion of Theodosios Peligrinis—a former New Democracy MP who later joined the far-right party Spartans—as emblematic of blurred political boundaries. Doukas suggested such moves compromise PASOK’s credibility as a progressive force with a distinct identity.
When asked about his past remarks on dialogue with former Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, Doukas clarified: ‘We’ve now reached the point of announcing Peligrinis. I had proposed exploring dialogue only with those committed to progressive governance.’
Diamantopoulou Warns of Counterproductive Outcomes
Anna Diamantopoulou echoed these concerns in a public statement, though in more measured terms. She acknowledged the complexity of political expansion but cautioned that ignoring ethical and ideological boundaries could backfire. Referring to former members who left—or publicly attacked—the party during critical moments, she noted that many had crossed lines of political ethics and respectful disagreement.
‘If these boundaries are ignored, the expansion may produce the opposite of its intended effect,’ she warned—suggesting it could deepen internal divisions rather than broaden appeal.